Glass Bottom Boat Tours at Pennekamp State Park on Key Largo

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the glass bottom boat tour at John Pennekamp State Park on Key Largo, but I’m so glad we did it. I’ll always be happy just being out on the water, but when you add in nature, narration and something unique you’ve really got me. I thought perhaps the glass bottom boat from Key Largo was going to be goofy, but it was actually awesome and a great addition to a week in the Florida Keys. It’s a fun ride, you’ve got beautiful sights and lots of wildlife. Score!

Read on and you’ll see just what to expect and how to ensure you have a great experience doing the glass bottom boat at John Pennekamp State Park. I think it’s one of the best Key Largo tours, especially when it comes to giving visitors of all abilities an underwater experience. If you have any questions about the Pennekamp glass bottom boat or need other ideas for things to do on Key Largo, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help others plan a great trip through the Florida Keys.

Highlights of the Pennekamp Glass Bottom Boat Tour

John Pennekamp State Park is always fun and interesting to visit, but what many visitors to Key Largo think of is the glass bottom boat. It’s not a glass bottom boat like you think of if you’ve been to Cabo San Lucas or other sorts of resort towns. The Pennekamp glass bottom boat is actually a large catamaran similar in size (a bit smaller) to the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park.

Starting at the docks of the state park or the Key Largo Marina (depending on which tour you book), this tour heads out through the mangrove islands and channels out to the Molasses Reef. As you travel along you get to watch for birds, turtles and dolphins, and then once out at the reef is where the coolness of the glass bottom boat element begins. The catamaran hulls are full of viewing windows into the waters below, so the captain slows the boat down significantly to merely move along the reef slowly as guests on the tour surround the viewing area.

As you move along a naturalist with amazing eyes and a microphone shares information about the reef itself and all the wildlife you’re seeing through the windows. The Pennekamp glass bottom boat tour is such a cool experience for viewing fish, rays, turtles and more. I wasn’t sure just how cool this would be, but after spending 45 minutes dangling my legs over the glass hulls and enjoying a completely different underwater experience, I’m so glad we did this. I was surprised by the number of animals and clarity of the water throughout our journey. It was a blast.

Book a Key Largo Glass Bottom Boat Tour here!

Tips for a Great Key Largo Glass Bottom Boat Tour

When you do the Pennekamp glass bottom boat you’ll have a few options for where you can be during the boat trip parts of the tour. The distance from the dock in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park out to the Molasses Reef is about 6 miles, which takes about 45 minutes to get to. You can sit inside the air conditioned cabin, the front of the catamaran or on the top deck of the glass bottom boat, so depending on the temperatures and how well you’re protected from the sun, choose where to enjoy the journey. I like to be on the top deck in one of the shady areas, but if it’s a rough day or if it’s crowded upstairs, being inside downstairs is nice too.

On the boat ride out to the reef, there are opportunities to see all kinds of wildlife in and on the water. Keep your eyes peeled and listen to the narration as you go for the best chances to see dolphins and hear about the ecosystems of the Florida Keys. If you’re not doing other activities on the water while you’re in the Keys, for sure spend a little time up top so you can really take in the turquoise waters. From the top deck you can see the beautiful changes in color, and when there are turtles and rays, you’ll have a much better vantage point than the lower deck.

Being Prepared for a Pennekamp Glass Bottom Boat Tour

The Pennekamp glass bottom boat tour is NOT a snorkeling trip. Those are available through the state park vendor too, as are diving trips, but this tour is really just is all about about the views above and below the surface. You should bring sunglasses (polarized are best) and a broad brimmed hat. The boat does pick up speed when you get to the open water, so be mindful to not lose your hat.

And then hats or not, you’ll want to put on sunblock before you head out on the boat tour. While the wildlife viewing is mostly through the glass bottom boat hull area, you’ll like spend a lot of time outside. If you don’t apply sunblock before you’re onboard, be sure that whatever you’re going to use is a lotion, roll-on or bar and NOT a spray. Spray sunblock gets on the deck and makes things slippery and also blows away into the ocean, which is very bad for the environment. If you’re not a sunblock person, bring a light jacket (not to stay warm unless it’s January maybe).

Taking Photos on the Key Largo Glass Bottom Boat

From the outer decks of the Pennekamp glass bottom boat it’s easy to photograph the birds you’ll see on the trip out to the reef, but when it comes to the underwater time through the glass bottom hulls, that’s more difficult. When you’re watching the wildlife underwater, you’re about ten feet above the glass panes and then the water provides a level of distortion. The best way to get photos during the time on the reef is actually to take video and then lift single images from it afterwards.

I recommend sitting near the aft (back) part of the glass bottom area so that you can see the fish and turtles as the boat moves forward. The naturalist will call out what is visible below based on numbered sections of the glass, so being at the tail end of it will give you an extra second or two to spot the wildlife. Photography through the glass bottom boat hulls is best with a camera phone vs a large camera, and definitely NOT with a telephoto. It’s just not the right situation for that type of photography.

Parking for Glass Bottom Boat Tours

When you arrive at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, there are a few areas you might want to stop and ultimately the main parking area and the boat parking area are both good for the glass bottom boat tour. Because the park can get rather busy, take whatever parking you can get and then if you want beach or kayaking time after your tour, just walk where you want to go. The aquarium area / visitor center is also in this area, so anything you need is convenient to the parking areas.

For those who book the Key Largo Princess for their glass bottom boat tour through John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, you’ll park at the Holiday Inn Key Largo at the marina and board there. You can’t miss it! There is usually plenty of parking, but you should still get there at least 15 minutes before your tour (I recommend 30 minutes). This is the same place that you park and catch the historic African Queen Boat Tour.